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Location bar search/keyword feature doesn't work the same as 3.x

cdwolgast
cdwolgast
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In 3.x I could type anything in the location bar and it would "resolve" it. I could type "google maps" and it would go to maps.google.com, "yahoo mail" and it would go to mail.yahoo.com. And if it couldn't figure it out then it would do a google search.

Now, in 4, if I type the same things I get "This URL is not valid and can't be loaded." I tried to disable the fixup feature to see if that was interfering but that didn't help. I liked it the old way when I just typed what I was thinking and it would take me where I wanted to go. I've verified this many times as I still have 3 at home and 4 at work.



I also hate that the refresh button moved.

In 3.x I could type anything in the location bar and it would "resolve" it. I could type "google maps" and it would go to maps.google.com, "yahoo mail" and it would go to mail.yahoo.com. And if it couldn't figure it out then it would do a google search. Now, in 4, if I type the same things I get "This URL is not valid and can't be loaded." I tried to disable the fixup feature to see if that was interfering but that didn't help. I liked it the old way when I just typed what I was thinking and it would take me where I wanted to go. I've verified this many times as I still have 3 at home and 4 at work. I also hate that the refresh button moved.

All Replies (2)

TonyE
TonyE
  • Moderator
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The change between Firefox 3.6.* and Firefox 4 is how location bar search works. In Firefox 3.6 it uses Google "Browse by name" search. With the browse by name search, it performs a Google search and if there is a clear match it will take you to the site, otherwise it shows the Google search result. With Firefox 4 it just performs a Google search if you type something which is not recognised as a URL.

To get the Firefox 3.6 behaviour on Firefox 4 you need to change a hidden preference.

  1. Type about:config into the location bar and press enter
  2. Accept the warning message that appears, you will be taken to a list of preferences
  3. Locate the preference keyword.URL, double-click on it and change its value to the link shown below

http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=navclient&gfns=1&q=

If you prefer, you can also do this by installing the Browse by Name extension - https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/browse-by-name

If you hate the Refresh button moving, you can move it where you want. Right-click on a toolbar and select Customize. With the customize toolbar dialog on display you can drag and drop the buttons to where you want them.

Modified by TonyE

allison.schmitz
allison.schmitz
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I have this same issue- I have tried changing it the way you say to, but every time I close the browser it resets and I have to change it every time I search- I should be able to type in "target" and be taken to target.com- it says that this works, but all it does is search for target and it won't even do that unless I change the settings every time I open the browser- I never had any problems with 3.5 or 6 and I am going to uninstall 4.0 and go back- it doesn't work like an updated browser should- it is worse!